Foldable trailer hitch



Sept 23, 1952 w. E. vlARTiN FOLDABLE TRAILER HITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 15, 1948 Y sm., Y

. 1N V EN TOR. I Zlam, Ejlfaw'zfaz 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1V II Imm' w. E. MARTIN FOLDABLE TRAILER HITCH Sept. 23, 1952 Filed July 15, 1949 25,9 INVENTOR.

Sept. 23, 1952 w. E. MARTIN FOLDABLE: TRAILER HITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1948 i INVENToR. Zwlziam TJ/@wma Sept 23, 1952 w. E. MARTIN FOLDABLE TRAILER HITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed .July l5, 1948 patented Sept. 23, 1:952.

o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 2,611,496 l FLDELE'ERAIIJ'HT" W'i'iiiai-Eirtin, Kewmieeilit .f Appiioouonsuiifis, .1948, serial No. 38;:340"

13 claims: 1V.

Thisfvnventionrelatesv toa foldable trailerr hitch` designed to incorporate a paralleli link structure .to 'connect the tonguevr ofthevrhiteh to the hed'vof a machinery hauling trailer, thefentire combination of 4mean-s permitting'a variablel n disposition `of the haul-ing. tongue incertain positions-f-with respect tothe loadcarrying bedA to enhance the exibilityfandfuse ofoperation of a unit of'vthis kind.l

In atrailer for hauling heavy machinery various ways are` used -to load machinery .Y andv the -K present vinyentionisv more particularly adaptedfor use-withia-ti-ailer having front endloadingfacilities;including a foldahle hitch whereinl the trailer towingl tongue may f beflowered yinto recliningorground engaging. position. Further, the tongue; Ais .arranged to form a ramp -to guidetheimachinery` to or from the forwardioading end-of thetrai-ler leed.I

It 1s one of tho. mom obfjoots of thisemvonuoo to provide a foldablefhitch wherein thei tongue and trailer bed arejoined by parallellinkfmeeh anisms. that wil1., normally maintainv the tongue and bed inparallel relationfunder--towing condi--Y tions, butincorporating.; meansf to" allowf out. of parallelA relationship between the tongueandhed under-loading` ancl.- unloading conditions: To maintain thef vparallel link." mechanisms suilstan- 1 tially'; parallel for allpractica'l' purposes: under towing. yconditions annif-also during the raising:

and lowering ot thetrailer bed throughl the tongue of the `hitch, the strains and stresses areA eicientlyxdistributed in a comparatively Simple structure that simultaneously functions as a means to-hold the` tongue in a predetermined relation with respect tothe trailer bed-under the' usualfconditionsof operation. At the same time; the link l :mechanisml has vcertain other cooperaeld of Ioperations- Another objecttheeforeoiv the vrpresent del# sign of foldable trailer hitchf is 'to provide simple; elcientmechans'm `to' hold the tongue of the hitch 1ina; fixed-jana predetermined piano with' respect 'to' the plane-'of the'ibed of the trailer;` and` wherein' the tng'ue'isadaptedfto chang this re'- lation'shpunder loaoli'r'lgi"conditionsv` to'y auto:

matioaliy accommodate jitseiftoj the .roaeway' or Y generall 'terrain' of `the dgrcmncr adjacent *the 'ioa'dI be. T hojooo of'l uio trailer" may.. tojsjup i the loading pointhor upwardlywasth cas upon" brooks or the eii'd 'ofthe loodI ryjoefio to thegroun'd as shownn and descr bed IS oopenaing application' serial N65 38:8'38; se'dof" even' dato herewith. Thes'vanofis conditions" or Combinations thereof" con ber'adilyovoofs through the use of the yfoldaloiotraiieririitorilor' this "invention whi'oh allows' meohroauyiesn oiont trailer' naming wriiifooohnery'is: "nig" f transported, andwhichalso provides a 1fie "bl" arrangementto 'take careof'normal 'loa'dingdli'- odeq'at 'support vfor the monotona o f tii'otonguo and'sid span wllertlfieu tongue isy disposedupon nijgroua functioning-os o ramp to perm-1t' machineryto 'properly pass ooi-oss; thofont #one of uio oeoofrhotii1er.' Air other objeots amil advantagosfiherent'in trio foilati traiirhitoh of -the present 'design and 'invent-ion shall hereini thereof having reference-to theV accompanying drawiigslforning a pa'rtfof this specification.i-

Fig. 1mi-s a side-elevational viewof a trailer in# co'rpcirai-ingr the4 newf foldable trailer hitch?VA Fig, 2 is an enlarged"fragmentaryoside elevar. tional view of the frontend of theitrai-lertoabet" ter illustratecertain otherf-details'iof iconstruction'-VV of the foldable trailer hitch;

Fig.Y 3i isa planview of the same portion of''thef trailer'showni-in Fig.2; g y

Fig,r 4 is a horizontal-cross sectior-iatview'takenU substantially o1on'g the une 4`4 in Fig. 2f to illustrate further details of construction of the foldable trailer hitch;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of a trailer embodying a foldable trailer hitch of modified design;

Fig. 6 is another view like Fig. 5 but showing a modified form of foldable trailer hitch that combines the Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 constructions;

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front end of a trailer with `a foldable trailer hitch incorporating a further suggested modification in the design thereof which is not shown in the other hitches; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the Fig. 7 construction with the tongue of the hitch in reclining position for loading purposes, and also with the adjacent end of the trailer bed resting upon the ground or other trailer supporting surface.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4 inclusive, the trailer comprises a load .carrying bed I having a raised rear platform 2 supported upon the wheeled carriage 3, with the forwardend of the bed supported by means of a foldable trailer hitch 4 having a tongue 5 connected with a conventional fifth wheel 6 of a tractor 1, and said tongue and bed are joined by the dual parallel link mechanisms 8 and 9. This constitutes a gooseneck type of trailer adapted to be drawn by a power vehicle and one that has a tongue representing a ramp as part of the hitch means which can be folded to the ground with the trailer bed supported upon blocks or lowered to the ground as conditions of operation best warrant.

Tongue 5 is of bed width and may be provided with any type of hitch pin. In the present construction the tongue is brought into contact with the ground so for better efficiency and practicability a removable hitch pin I is used which conforms with the structure shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 38,837, led of even date herewith. The raising and lowering of the hitch, and the bed with the hitch if desired, is done by means of a conventional hoist or windlass II usually carried upon the pulling vehicle or tractor 1, such hoist using a cable I2 and hook I3 for connection about a bar I4 welded to the tongue 5 with the hook passing through a clearance hole I in the tongue deck adjacent the bar I4 as best seen in Fig. 3.

The link mechanisms 8 and 9 are similar but oppositely related or positioned with respect to each other as will be evident in the following explanation. Link 8 is of U-shaped construction having a flat cross panel I6 terminating in end flanges I1 and I8 that are formed at right angles with respect to the panel I6 to position the flanges in parallel relation. Two or more reinforcing plates I9 and 20 are welded or otherwise fastened intermediate the length of the panel I6 and such plates generally conform to the shape of the flanges I1 and I8.

The terminal ends of the flanges I1 and I8, and the plates I9 and v2li are all provided with aligned apertures to receive pivotal shafts `2I and' 22` that extend parallel and transversely through the tongue 5 and the sloping bed projections 23 respectively. Link 8 is positioned as best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 with its panel I6 to the front of the trailer forming a protective shield for the pivotal arrangement thereof and for the second link 9 and its associated parts whenever the trailer is in transportable condition. In addition, the central plates I9 and 20 4 are spaced to flank the adjacent inner faces of the two middle projections 23 of the bed I as best shown in Fig. 3 which counteracts side motion of the link 8, while the tongue 5 is centered with respect to the link 8 through its connection with the mechanism comprising link 9 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Link 9 is also U-shaped and comprises a cross panel 24 having end flanges 25 and 26 as a part thereof with intermediate plates 21 and 28 all similarly arranged as in link 8 structure, but with the panel 24 normally facing the trailer bed to protect the mechanisms of link 9 and the adjacent structure of link 8 from damage by machinery and other equipment being hauled while the tongue 5 is in raised towing position. Thus the links 8 and 9 can be considered as oppositely disposed or related by reason of the locations of the panels I6 and 24 of such links.

The ends of the flanges 25 and 26 together with the ends of the plates 21 and 28 are also all provided with aligned apertures for the reception of pivotal shafts 29 and 30 which are parallel and connected with the tongue 5 and bed projections 23 respectively. Thus link 9 is used as link 8 and the spacing of the axial locations of shafts 2I-22 and shafts 29-38 is such to comprise a parallelogram arrangement when viewed as in Figs. l and 2. For all practical considerif ations the links 8 and 9 together with the tongue and bed provide a parallel link structure capable of holding the tongue 5 in aA plane parallel to the plane of the bed I when the tongue is raised or when it is being moved from raised position into ground engaging position or vice versa.

However, with bed I raised or supported upon blocks such as 3I, the tongue 5 could not be used to serve the dual purpose of a towing instrumentality and also as a ramp for loading unless provisions are positively made to allow the tongue the facility to move out of its parallel plane relationship with respect to the plane of bed I when the tongue is to serve as a ramp.

This has been done by the provision of aligned horizontal slots 32 formed in the projections 33-33 and 34-34 which form parts of the tongue side channels 35-35 and intermediate I-beams 36-36. Slots 32 are indicated as extending rearwardly from the true parallelogram relationship as indicated by the axis of shaft 29 in Fig. 2 but this is not a limiting factor.

Attention is directed to the tongue 5 in Fig. 2 and to what action occurs at the link mechanisms 8 and 9 when the tongue 5 is held by the cable I2 or if such tongue is supported upon the fifth wheel 6 in Fig. 1. In either case shaft 2l provides an upper fulcrum for the tongue 5 causing vertical forces to act upon shaft 29 but since the slots 32 are horizontal the level or fixed posi-- tion of the tongue with respect to the trailer bed does not change. 'I'he upper end of link 9 will assume a xed position under vertical load forces which will'prevent fore and aft movement of shaft 29 in slots 32 through frictional locking of the joined parts. With this arrangement an ideal parallel link suspension is obtainable in the interrelation of the hitch and trailer bed as best represented in Fig. l.

The lowered position of the tongue comprising its out of parallel position with respect to the bed is best seen in Fig. 2 at 31 wherein the dot and lectedl positions to'.` carry thel n iachirxorg.4 thatV passes. over panel. 2L Panel; t4.A when rotated downwardly as described forms. a. bridge. to span the gap betweenthe` deck of thelowered ramp tongue 5 and: theload carrying plaiaejlllV forming a machinery carrying surface. of. thetrailerf bed.

With, link. 9v downagainstshaft. 22.. as explained the. link is well supported and4 braced to carry, a heavy. load and, link 9v alsoy forms: a fixedL hedY extension when down which places shaft 29.be.

yond the forwardy end ofbed l andl its pr.0ie tionsv 23' to support.. therear endl off` the. tongue f 5. directly from. a. pointspaced .outwardly from` the; front. end ofthe bed! l.. Link B'merely'takes on anv inactive role whenthe tongue. isvx lowered alf; though it does directlycoact to .prevent side-s wayl of the tongue and. to. maintan...lateralstability thereof wthrespectto the end,- ofthe trailer loed B othpanelsbeing solid.y and atwill actto counjteract w.eaving and. warping to-y stabilize the: tongue. I

As link 5 stops.. in.. the, tongueiimiting position, link 8 may continue. to swing downwardly and itis at thispoint that thetipendof the tongue continues to, lower by means of theshaft and slot. arrangement .29. and 3 2.. The 4tonguecan there,- fore move .out of. itsheretoore. parallel relationship with respect, tol the bedto recline angularly' in relation to the ground iorming. a.. ramp with the rear endof the. tong-ue; properly. positioned with respect, to .the intermedt-TUILWW Surfa comprising panel. 24 of, link. 9 which forms the proper continuity of loadingl surraceleading.. to the bed. Thus panels.. l'G.v and 24.-also: form pro'- tective shields for the pivotal parts, etc-., ofQ the hitch mechanismswhenin lowered position with,

panel I6 protecting4 suchpartsy against damage. l

from beneath while` thepanel shields the .parts againstA damage from above..

`If the ground contourl slopesI downwardly aw-ayv from the loading end.. of .the trailer bed as shown at 4I in Fig..2, the tonguemay continuetodrop its outer end further into, thedotted, line position.

shown at 42. And the raisingiof thetonguereverses the proces .by slowly. regaining the lostrno-v tion connectionA between shaft 29.a nd theslots 32, in tongue 5. until links-Sand 9.- arepractically parallel at. which time the .Y tongue. willflift. iny a, plane.v parallel to thehed plane; raising-'the-linksuntil the full line position of- Fig, 2- is; attained at which time further lift will also raise the adjacent bed end. of the trailer tot preparegthe latter for transportation. l Y

Itshould be. observed; that.- the; positions Of.; the

iianges i 'Ia-I 8.y and. 25-.2.B are staggered inzplan.v

seen, small ,slots in. the tongue and-link arranged.

as shown will' accommodate.` considerableedropf: of the tongueas indicated by..E the. dottedilines. to show` an intermediateposition ofzithe; tongue with this.` structure. In'` the.- illustrations 1 vinfftherv drawings attention is; directed toethe=factzthatr the slotted structures. vhave been. exaggerateriz somewhat to: better show the: inventive. features@ of; this .-design. Inl actual practicetlieseslot clear-e.

ances are .made smailer, but: their relationships" and placement.substantiallyfollowtlie iisclosiire-l s Figs. 7 andshow 'azconstructioni 'whereirnthe link 9 uses.the:.vertical slots. 4=3of;.Eig.x 5`,-.1but wherein thetongue 5 includeszalignedA slots yt5 of doubleended design in'the:.tongue.;partsi33e-33 point 46 and oppositely declining; foreand aft.

- portions Aranda-8.. The high pointAS determines5 553 andseoondary elements off thefoldable 'trallerf as shown in Figs- Sand- 4, vandthes ameis-tr-ue;

with. the plates, Ill-2.1!. and 21e-28,so. that these respective parts do nbti'nterfere in lowered posi?.-

tion. Fig. 4 .showsthe relationship` ofthe aforo-f said parts inqdot .andgdash linesas they would apllearwith,thetongue down to termijn? 'load-Y ingframp.' of the. trailer.

The modlfled. c onstrnotions, shown l in. Figs. 5,

Gand '7'l aresubstantially, the sameias the.- cle-- for the changes,sue-gested;v

innig. .5,l thesame; resuuaarenhtainedlby proffthe true; parallelogram. relationship of. shaft?A 2&2.

and the latter will seek thisipositionwheneven the` tongue; is raised; This'. action takes place"-v through .thef interaction i. of.` the'. slot.:portions= .415

and. 48, thatincline. upwardlyztowardp the; point' 46. creating-an. automatic canraction tormovefthet shaftLfrom eitherend onslotg towardcthelhighii midpoint.. thereof; 1 z j; Although a1 straightfslot';.mayfbe' used4 as; in

thefFig. z-construction, the Fl'g..7i design idees? introduce theautomatie centering means W-hicli--j can heeiiiciently used in hitch structuresl wherein* .thefront end of the hed maybe' retainediupon' blocks 3| orin cases where the bedis lowered`l directly tothe ground asshown in` Fig. 8:1 I'n'thg,v latter' disclosure, it should be observed that .panel'f I6 of link 8 forms a ground rest.1;)rojectingawayJ from the ground engaging end of the iced rpro.- jecti'ons23, and that panel, I6 will.readilyaccom.-l modateitself to thesurface contour of ytheground.. to adequately position the tongue-for properzapr.- preach of. vehicles to becarried. by thatraileml which can easily move; upon. the tongueurampf over its. forward` tapereditip- 'end .so formed@ for' f thiszpurpose.

Any other changesV and variations in the-eil'aot'Ik design, construction or combination' of the'nriain hitch of thisinventionshall be governed bythe'.

breadth'and scope-"oi thelanguage offthe claims;

appended hereto.

Wl'latr I' claim is:

'11A foldahlehitch fora machinery. hauling;l

means toinorrnally hold said'tongue in a plane.,v disposed parallel to thev plane ofthe trailer while.

in transportable 'position andA during the loweringr ottlietongue toward the"ground,^ andA l'ost'fniotionV meansinterposed loetween said* link-mechanisms Iand Vsaid tongue yto-v allow-the latter-'to' assumera-rr'A out of parallel relationship with respect tossaid trailer when. the ztongue is loweredtol-the ground-.

` said.: lost.: motion. means.includingI parts-1 of vsaitiff 1 Viding aligned vertical sloten-3; lnthitiupne and: 7 5.-. ,il@hallan2tne;horizontafllyedisnose:.islotsiformedi therein for the reception of certain of the pivotal means carried by said link mechanisms.

2. A foldable hitch for a machineryA hauling trailer comprising a tongue assembly, a bed assembly to carry the machinery, and link mechanisms extending between said assemblies including pivotal means joining said assemblies for disposing said tongue assembly in parallel relationship with respect to said bed assembly during transportation, said pivotal means Vbeing adapted vto,..guide said tongue assembly while lowering the latter towardv the' ground, and lost motion means interposed between one of said assemblies and said vlink mechanisms to allow said tongue assembly to move out of said parallel relationship with respect to the bed assembly and to incline the tongue assembly with respect to the ground when lowered thereto, said lost motion means comprising certain parts of said one assembly including horizontally disposed slots formed therein for the reception oi certain of the pivotal means of said link mechanisms.

.3. A foldablehitch for a machineryfhauling trailer comprising a tongue, and link mechanisms connecting said trailer and the tongue to control the movements of the tongue relative to the trailer, said tongue providing means to form a ramp for said trailer to load and unload machinery, said link mechanisms comprising pivotal means to normally hold said tongue in a plane disposed parallel to the plane of the trailer whileV in .transportable position and during the lowering of .the tongue toward the ground, and lost motion means interposed between said link mechanisms` and said tongue to allow the latter to lassume an out of parallel relationship with. respect to said trailer when the tongue is lowered to the ground,

said lost motion means including parts of said tongue having horizontally disposed slots formed f therein for the reception of certain of the pivotal means carried by said link mechanisms, and one of said link mechanisms providing surface means to 'form an auxiliary ramp between said tongue andsaid trailer when said tongue is lowered and in ground contacting position.

A foldable hitch for a machinery hauling trailer comprising a tongue assembly, a bed assembly to carry the machinery, said tongue assembly providing a ramp for loading and unloading machinery from said bed assembly when said foldable hitch engages the ground, and link mechanisms extending between said assemblies including pivotal means joining said assemblies for disposing said tongue assembly in parallel relationship with respect to said bed assembly during transportation, said pivotal means being adapted to guide said tongue assembly while lowering the latter toward the ground, and lost m o tion means interposed between one of said assemblies and said link mechanisms to allowsaid tongue assembly to move out of said parallel relationship with respect to the bed assembly and vto incline the tongue assembly with respect to the' ground when lowered thereto, said'lost motion f means comprising certain parts of said one assembly including horizontally disposed vslots formed therein for the reception of certainof the pivotal means of said link mechanisms, and one of .said link mechanisms having surface means to form an auxiliary rampbetween said assemblies when said tongue assembly is lowered into ground contact.

5. Ina trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable I means connectingY said bed and. tongue to'move thev latter from raised towingposition to ground contacting positionfsaidtongue providing al ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter position, said operable means comprising a pair of freely swin'gable links having pivotal connections with said bed and tongue through shafts arranged in parallelogram order vwhereby said tongue is normally positioned parallel to said bed, and said tongue having fore and aft slots therein to coactV With'one of said pivotal'shafts'to maintain said tongue parallel to said bed while the tongue is raised and in operabletowing position, said ,one shaft and said fore and aft slots functioning to let said tongue move out of parallel relation with respect to said bed only when the tongue is lowered.

6. In a trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable means-connecting said bed and tongue to move the latter from'raised towing position to ground contacting position, said tongue providing a ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter position', said operable means comprising a pair of links having pivotal connections with said bed and tongue and arranged in parallelogram order whereby vsaid tongue is normally positioned parallel to said bed. and said tongue having fore and aft, slots therein to coact with one of said pivotal connections, said latter connection and said slots functioning to let said tongue move out of parallel relation with respect to said bed when the tongue is lowered, said fore and aft slots each having portions thereof extending to either side of the theoretical parallelogram axial location of the pivotal means coacting with such slots. y

7. In a trailer, a bed. a tongue, and operable means connecting said bed and'tongue to move the latter from raised towing position to ground contacting position, said tongue providing a ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter position, y said operable means comprising a pair of links :of the theoretical'parallelogram axial location of the pivotal means coacting with such slots, and said slot portions of each slot sloping oppositely downwardly away from said theoretical axial location of said pivotal means which coincides with the high central portion of the aforesaid slots.

8. In altrailer,a bed, a tongue, and operable means connecting said bed andl tongue to move the latter from raised towing position to ground contacting position, said tongue providing a ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter position, said operable means comprising a pair of links having pivotal connections'A with said' bed and tongue and arranged in parallelogram order wherebysaid tongue is'normally positioned parallel to said bed, and said tongue having fore and aft slots therein to coact with one of said pivotal connections, the endsof one of the' links connected with said one pivotal means having n .when the tongue v'is lowered.- Y y 9. In a trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable means connecting said bed and tongue to move the latter from raised towing position to ground contacting position, said tongue providing a ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter position, said operable means comprising 'a pair of links having pivotal shaft connections with said bed and tongue arranged in 'parallelogram order whereby said tongue is normally positioned parallel to said bed, said links being connected by fore and aft shafts with said bed and by fore and aft shafts with the tongue, the tongue ends of the rearward link having vertically positioned slots formed therein for coaction with the rear shaft of said tongue, whereby lowering of said tongue rotates said slotted links to dispose the slots horizontally permitting the tongue to move out of parallel relation with' respect to the bed to lower the end of the tongue to the ground as a ramp approach for said bed, said rearward slotted link having abutment means thereon for engaging one of the shafts of said other link to start said out of parallel movement of said tongue.

10. In a trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable means connecting said bed and tongue to move the latter from raised towing position to ground contacting position, said tongue providing a ramp for said bed when disposed in said latter Position,

.said operable means comprising a pair of links having pivotal connections with said bed and tongue, said links each comprising a continuous transverse panel having angularly formed sides constituting means for connection with said pivotal means with the sides of one panel disposed in staggered relation with respect to the sides of the other panel to allow limited and adjacent overlap of the respective sides for lateral stability when said ,tongue is lowered, said link panels being positioned oppositely outwardly with respect to each other to form protective shields forl the pivotal means when said tongue is in raised position, and said panels forming upper and lower protective shields for said same pivotal means when said tongue is dropped into lowered position contactingthe ground and providing a ramp approach for said bed. v

11. In a trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable means to connect said tongue with the bed to raise and lower the tongue with respect to said bed, said tongue comprising a ramp approach to said bed when the tonguev is down, and said operable means comprising U-shaped links each having a transverse panel with angularly formed sides, a pair of cross shafts connecting the ends of the sides of the panels with the tongue, and a pair of cross shafts connecting the other ends of the sides with the bed, said shafts being positioned in axial locations forming a parallelogram to cause the tongue to move parallel with respect to said bed, and lost motion means interposed at one of the shaft locations to allow distortion of said parallelogram arrangement at a predetermined point in the lowering of the tongue to allow the latter to move out of parallel with respect to the bed and to contact the ground to function as the ramp for said bed.

12. In a trailer, a bed, a tongue, and operable means to connect said tongue with the bed to raise and lower the tongue with respect to said bed, said tongue comprising a ramp approach to said bed when the tongue is down, and said operable means comprising U-shaped links each having a transverse panel with angularly formed sides, a pair of cross shafts connecting the ends of the sides of the panels with the tongue, and a pair of cross shafts connecting the other ends of the sides with the bed, said shafts being positioned in axial locations forming a parallelogram to cause the tongue to move parallel with respect to said bed, the sides of one of said links being arranged to contact one of the shafts of the other of said links to stop the motion of said one link when the tongue is being lowered, and

lost motion means for said links to allow said x other link to continue its movement during the lowering of said tongue to let the latter move out of parallel relation with respect to said bed and into reclining contact with the ground to form a ramp approach for said bed.

13. In a trailer having a foldable hitch comprising a tongue for towing, a machinery hauling bed, and operable link mechanism connecting said tongue and bed to join the same and to guide the movements of said tongue in raising and lowering the same, said tongue forming a ramp when lowered for loading machinery onto said bed, and said operable link mechanism comprising a two part unit with each part having pivotal connections at spaced points with said tongue and said bed respectively to lower said tongue in parallel relation with respect to said bed, and means to limit the movement of one of said parts during the lowering of said tongue and to support the adjacent end of said tongue at a fixed point beyond the front end of said bed, the other of said parts having lost motion means to continue its motion and that of the tongue during the lowering of the tongue whereby said latter is adapted to assume an out of parallel position with respect to said bed to incline downwardly from the point of support of said tongue from said first part with the free end of said tongue in angular contact with the surface of the ground.

Y WILLIAM E. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 2,131,949 Helmig Oct. 4, 1938 2,418,567 Ausherman Apr. 8, 1947 2,431,436 Townsend Nov. 25, 1947 2,441,710 Martin May 18, 1948 2,443,611 1 Ferguson June 22, 1948 2,452,789 Pike Nov. 2,v 1948 

